Tuvalu MPs lobbying ahead of Friday vote for new PM

Tuvalu's caretaker Communications Minister Taukelina Finikaso says there is still hope for the MPs in the grouping of the deposed Prime Minister Maatia Toafa that it can stay in government.

Mr Toafa was ousted by eight votes to seven in a no-confidence vote on Tuesday after the Home Affairs Minister Willie Telavi crossed the floor.

Parliament is to sit tomorrow to elect a new prime minister and Mr Toafa says it's likely his group will put forward his deputy Enele Sopoaga.

Mr Finikaso claims Mr Telavi was lured to the opposition side by the promise of being made the next Prime Minister.

He says lobbying among MPs is intense ahead of the vote.

"There's still time to manouevre around until Friday. It (the lobbying) has been intense, you know, especially when the group that Mr Telavi walked to have locked themselves away in a house, and it's very hard to get to them."